Every abbreviation on a basketball box score, in one place. 43 terms — click through for the full explanation, formula, and worked example.
Abbr
Full name
What it means
+/-
Plus-Minus
Plus-minus is the team’s point differential while a player is on the floor — credits or charges every player on the court.
2x2
Double-Double
A double-double is a single game with double-digit totals in two of: points, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks.
3P%
Three-Point Percentage
3P% is the share of three-point attempts that go in — the cleanest measure of a shooter’s long-range accuracy.
3PA
Three-Pointers Attempted
Three-point attempts.
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3PM
Three-Pointers Made
Made shots from beyond the arc.
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3x10
Triple-Double
A triple-double is a single game with double-digit totals in three of: points, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks.
APG
Assists Per Game
APG is total assists divided by games played — how many baskets per game a player directly created for a teammate.
AST
Assists
Passes that directly led to a made basket.
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AST/TO
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio
AST/TO measures ball-control: how many assists a player creates for each turnover they commit.
BLK
Blocks
Shot attempts deflected by a defender.
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BPG
Blocks Per Game
BPG is total blocks divided by games played — the headline rim-protection stat for centers and forwards.
DRB%
Defensive Rebound Percentage
DRB% is the share of available defensive rebounds a player grabbed while on the floor.
DREB
Defensive Rebounds
Rebounds collected on the defensive end.
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DRtg
Defensive Rating
Defensive Rating is points allowed per 100 possessions — the standard pace-adjusted defensive efficiency metric.
eFG%
Effective Field Goal Percentage
eFG% is FG% adjusted to give 3-pointers the bonus they deserve — a 3 is worth 50% more than a 2.
FG%
Field Goal Percentage
FG% is the share of shot attempts (2s and 3s combined) that go in — the most basic shooting efficiency metric.
FGA
Field Goals Attempted
Total shot attempts from the floor.
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FGM
Field Goals Made
Made shots from the floor (2s and 3s combined).
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FT/FGA
Free Throw Rate
Free Throw Rate is FTA divided by FGA — how often a player draws fouls relative to how often they shoot.
FT%
Free Throw Percentage
FT% is the share of free throws made — the purest measure of unguarded shooting touch.
FTA
Free Throws Attempted
Free-throw attempts.
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FTM
Free Throws Made
Made free throws.
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GmSc
Game Score
Game Score is John Hollinger’s single-number summary of a player’s value in one game — scaled like points.
GP
Games Played
Total games a player appeared in.
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GS
Games Started
Games where the player was in the starting five.
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MIN
Minutes Played
How many minutes a player was on the court.
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ORB%
Offensive Rebound Percentage
ORB% is the share of available offensive rebounds a player grabbed while on the floor.
OREB
Offensive Rebounds
Rebounds collected on the offensive end after a missed shot.
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ORtg
Offensive Rating
Offensive Rating is points scored per 100 possessions — the standard pace-adjusted offensive efficiency metric.
Pace
Pace
Pace is possessions per 48 minutes — how fast a team plays, independent of how well they score.
PER
Player Efficiency Rating
PER is a per-game number summarizing everything a player does — scoring, rebounds, assists, defense, and turnovers.
PF
Personal Fouls
Fouls charged to a player.
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PPG
Points Per Game
PPG is total points scored divided by games played — the simplest measure of a scorer’s output.
PTS
Points
Total points scored.
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REB
Total Rebounds
OREB + DREB combined.
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RPG
Rebounds Per Game
RPG is total rebounds divided by games played — combining offensive and defensive boards into a single per-game number.
SPG
Steals Per Game
SPG is total steals divided by games played — the cleanest counting stat for on-ball defensive playmaking.
STL
Steals
Possessions taken from the opponent.
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TO
Turnovers
Possessions lost without a shot attempt.
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TOV
Turnovers Per Game
Turnovers per game is how often a player coughs up the ball — the negative twin of assists.
TOV%
Turnover Percentage
TOV% estimates what percentage of a player’s possessions ended in a turnover — controlling for usage.
TS%
True Shooting Percentage
TS% measures shooting efficiency across 2-pointers, 3-pointers, and free throws on a single 0–100 scale.
USG%
Usage Rate
USG% measures the share of a team’s offensive plays a player is responsible for — shots, free throws, and turnovers combined.
Rows with an arrow link to a full glossary entry — formula, worked example, and why the stat matters. Rows without an arrow are basic box-score line items that don't need a deeper explainer.
